Prelims bits - 1 Flashcards
UNODC
UNCAC, UNTOC, Drug conventions; Corruption, transnational org crime, migrants, trafficking, drugs, firearms, world wildlife crime report
RBI
Notifications, press releases
EIC trade commodities
cotton, silk, tea, opium, and saltpetre (potassium nitrate)
Jehangir paintings
influenced by European painting. direct contact with the English Crown and was sent gifts of oil paintings, which included portraits of the King and Queen. single point perspective favoured by European artists, unlike the flattened multi-layered style used in traditional miniatures. encouraged paintings depicting events of his own life, individual portraits, birds, flowers and animals
Commerce ministry
Annual reports on exports, imports
India’s agri exports, imports
number 1 producer - dairy, mango, banana;
2nd largest producer - cereals, fruits, veg
India 10th among countries with highest agricultural exports. Small countries - Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, etc. export much higher value of agricultural goods
In FY19, top commodities to be exported were basmati rice, buffalo meat and non-basmati rice
Vegetable oils formed the largest chunk of agricultural imports
Kanganahalli is considered an important Buddhist site because
- an ancient Buddhist Mahastupa site was excavated here
2. several sculptured panels depicting various Jataka stories could be found in excavations here
Nilgiri BR
Aralam, Mudumalai, Mukurthi, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Silent Valley national parks; Wayanad and
Sathyamangalam wildlife sanctuaries.
Nilgiri Sub-Cluster of Western Ghats, declared a WHS by UNESCO in 2012.
India’s first and foremost BR with a heritage, rich in flora and fauna.
Tribal groups like - Badagas, Todas, Kotas, Irullas, Kurumbas, Paniyas, Adiyans, Edanadan Chettis, Allar, Malayan, etc.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) performs
- Enforce service obligations for retail outlets
- Monitor transportation rates of petroleum in India
- Take corrective action to prevent restrictive trade practice by the involved trading entities
ECOSOC – Basics
1945, HQ NY
coordination, policy dialogue, policy review and recommendations on social, economic and environmental issues, implementation of internationally agreed development goals.
ECOSOC is also responsible for the follow-up to UN summits and conferences.
Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) and Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal
Justice (CCPCJ)
CND, CCPCJ were created by resolutions of ECOSOC
CND and CCPCJ are Governing Bodies of UNODC.
- policymaking bodies within the UN system and guide international action against drugs and crime
belief systems of Mahayana Buddhism
[A]ccording to disciples’ grades, Dharma is [classified as] inferior and superior. inferior was taught to merchants Trapuṣa and Ballika because they were ordinary men;
the middle was taught to group of 5 because they were at the stage of saints;
8-fold Prajñāpāramitās were taught to bodhisattvas, and [the Prajñāpāramitās] are superior
Buddhas and bodhisattvas are central elements; vastly expanded cosmology, various Buddhas and bodhisattvas residing in diff worlds and buddha-fields. depiction of buddhas and bodhisattvas through image worship and rituals in monasteries and viharas.
Popular bodhisattvas - Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, Maitreya.
Bodhisattvas could reach the personal nirvana of the arhats, but they believe it is more important to remain in saṃsāra and help others
climate engineering techniques -
stratospheric sulfate aerosols AND Cirrus cloud thinning
stratospheric sulfate aerosols - global dimming effect. for use in solar radiation management - limit the effect and impact of climate change due to rising levels of greenhouse gases. Delivery of precursor sulfide gases such as sulfuric acid, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) or sulfur dioxide (SO2) by artillery, aircraft and balloons has been proposed.
Cirrus cloud thinning- Cirrus clouds are high cold ice - differ from other types of clouds in that, on average, infrared absorption outweighs sunlight
reflection, resulting in a net warming effect on the climate. thinning or removing these clouds would reduce their heat trapping capacity
Social capital
set of shared values that allows individuals to work together, achieve a common purpose, live harmoniously.
In business, social capital can contribute to a company’s success by building a sense of shared
values and mutual respect.
Social capital can manipulate people and destroy order - drug cartels and corporations that team up to drive out the competition.
include interpersonal relationships, a shared sense of identity, a shared understanding, shared norms, shared values, trust, cooperation, and reciprocity
Bank recapitalization
recapitalising banks with new capital to improve their balance sheet.
Since govt is the biggest shareholder in public sector banks, responsibility of infusing capital majorly lies with it.
recapitalisation plan comes when banks’
liabilities > assets.
Internal and Extra Budgetary Resources (IEBR)
IEBR an important part of the Central plan of the Govt
constitutes resources raised by PSUs through profits, loans and equity.
supplement the efforts of Union Govt to improve infrastructure spending
improve revenue-capital mix of expenditure for a more sustainable growth
RBI’s Capital Framework - money which is due to the government - Bimal Jalan panel recommendations,
economic capital framework- harmony b/w rbi’s need for autonomy and Govt’s objectives of development.
RBI decided to transfer Rs 1.76 lakh cr in dividend and surplus reserves to govt.
assess the adequacy of RBI reserves.
RBI to maintain the Contingency Risk Buffer (CRB), -country’s fund to handle financial stability within the range of 5.5% to 6.5% of the RBI’s balance sheet.
review of the Reserve Banks Economic Capital Framework (ECF) every 5 years.
If there is a significant change in the RBI’s risks and operating envt, an intermediate review may be considered.
RBI’s accounting year of July-June can be brought in sync with the fiscal year of April-March from the financial year 2020-21.
greater cohesiveness in the monetary policy projections and reports published by the RBI.
removed the interim payout structure in general circumstances. The payment of an interim dividend may then be restricted to extraordinary circumstances.
Nimbarka Vaishnava doctrine
Nimbarka, a Hindu philosopher and commentator, propagating Vaishnava doctrine of bhedabheda dvaitadvaita, duality in unity.
Ahmad al-Fārūqī al-Sirhindī (1564–1624)
Indian Islamic scholar, a Hanafi jurist, Naqshbandī Sufi order. Mujaddid - a “reviver”, for his work in rejuvenating Islam and opposing Akbar’s religion of Din-i Ilahi.
Most of Naqshbandī suborders today, such as the Mujaddidī, Khālidī, Saifī, Tāhirī, Qasimiya and
Haqqānī sub-orders, trace their spiritual lineage through Sirhindi.
Valley of Flowers National Park
alpine meadows. temperate alpine zone.
valley has 3 sub-alpine b/w 3,200m and 3,500m which is the limit for trees, lower alpine between 3,500m and 3,700m, and higher alpine above 3,700m.
Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, musk deer, brown bear, red fox and blue sheep; Himalayan monal pheasant, other high altitude birds.
At 3352 to 3658 m above sea level, the gentle landscape of the Valley of Flowers NP
complements the rugged mountain wilderness of Nanda Devi NP to the east
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act 1957) - common major
minerals
Lignite, Coal, Uranium, iron ore, gold etc.
no official defn for “major minerals” in the MMDR Act.
Hence, whatever is not declared as a “minor
mineral” may be treated as the major mineral.
(MMDR Act 1957) - common minor minerals
building stones, gravel, ordinary clay, ordinary sand other than sand used for prescribed purposes.
boulder,
shingle,
chalcedony pebbles used for ball mill purposes only,
lime shell, kankar and limestone used in kilns for manufacture of lime used as building material,
murrum,
brick-earth,
fuller’s earth,
bentonite,
road metal,
reh-matti,
slate and shale when used for building material,
marble,
stone used for making household utensils,
quartzite and sandstone when used for purposes of building or for making road metal and
household utensils,
saltpeter and
ordinary earth (used or filling or leveling purposes in construction or embankments, roads,
railways, building)
Assets and liabilities
assets of comm bank- Cash in hand, Investments, Loans, Advances, Bills discounted and purchased,
liabilities are Capital and Reserves, Deposits, Borrowings, etc
“Hind Mazdoor Sabha”.
founded Howrah, 1948 by socialists Forward Bloc followers and independent unionists - Basawon Singh (Sinha), Ashok Mehta, R.S. Ruikar, Maniben Kara, Shibnath Banerjee, R.A. Khedgikar, T.S. Ramanujam, V.S. Mathur, G.G. Mehta.
R.S. Ruikar elected president and Ashok Mehta general secretary.
Absorbed the Indian Federation of Labour (founded by Manabendra Nath Roy) and the Hind Mazdoor Panchayat, formed in 1948 by socialists leaving the increasingly communist dominated AITUC
“Sthanakvasi” religious sect
Sthānakavāsī sect of Śvētāmbara Jainism founded by merchant named Lavaji in 1653 AD.
idol worship not essential in the path of soul purification and attainment of Nirvana/Moksha.
a reformation of the one founded on teachings of Lonka, a 15th-century Jain reformer.
Sthānakavāsins accept 32 of the Jain Agamas, the Śvētāmbara canon.
Śvētāmbarins who are not Sthānakavāsins are mostly part the Murtipujaka sect
Kurvey Committee of 1955
1955; establishment of KVIC;
suggested distribution of 2-5 million ambar charkhas- technologically improved hand spinning equipment
Zaman Committee 1959
decentralization of Khadi work, recognition of large certified institutions; formation of co-operatives
Gyanchand Committee of 1962
to evaluate Khadi sales in the country.
pointed out vicious cycle of low o/p, low wages.
Nathu Committee in 1962
recommended that the policy of production and sales
at least 40% of sales within the district
80% within state
export to other states should not exceed 20%
Ashok Mehta Committee on KVIC in 1968
evolve a fresh approach to development
- producing salable articles
- providing employment to ppl in backward areas, tribal, inaccessible areas, famine, drought stricken areas, backward and less privileged section of the population
- to create self-reliance and community spirit among rural people
a bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhist tradition, as the embodiment of infinite compassion. Tibetan Vajrayana tradition calls him Cherezig and regards him as a Buddha, and the Dalai Lama to be his incarnation. He is
Avalokiteshvara
Future bodhisattva
Maitreya - future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology.
In some Buddhist literature, such as the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he is referred to as
Ajita. According to Buddhist tradition, Maitreya is a bodhisattva who will appear on Earth in the future,
achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure dharma
Mycotoxins
Aflatoxins - various diseases, such as aflatoxicosis in livestock, domestic animals, humans.
Patulin mycotoxin produced by - molds -Aspergillus,
Penicillium, Byssochlamys.- rotting apples
Aspergillus is used in commercial prodn of citric acid
all-India Household Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES)
quinquennial/5yrly;
reveals average expenditure on goods (food and non-food) and services
generate estimates of household Monthly Per Capita Consumer Expenditure (MPCE), distribution of households and persons over the MPCE classes.
gauging the demand dynamics, understanding the shifting priorities in terms of baskets of
goods and services
assessing living standards and growth trends;
used by govt in rebasing GDP and other macro-economic indicators
Rabha
ST community of Assam, Meghalaya and West Bengal.
Hajong
Hindus; largest ethnicities in Meghalaya; spread across NE India, West Bengal and Bangladesh.
predominantly rice farmers. ST in India.
Khamti
northwestern Burma as well as Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh in India. Smaller numbers can be found in parts of Assam.
Tai-Khamti are followers of Theravada Buddhism
Chakma
spread across Bangladesh and parts of northeastern India, western, Burma etc.
They have their own language, customs and culture, and profess Theravada Buddhism
Eradicable diseases
Diseases eradicable today: polio, Guinea worm disease, lymphatic filariasis, cysticercosis, measles, mumps, rubella
Eradicable diseases criteria: infectious, humans
major host, effective vaccines/treatments are available, political-financial support for eradication efforts
world eradicated 2 diseases: Smallpox, Rinderpest
Efforts to eradicate/eliminate addl diseases -malaria, trachoma, river blindness, yaws are underway
India and eradicable diseases
As at 2020, wild poliovirus type 1 affects two countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan. India has become the first country in the world to get the Yaws-free certificate by the WHO.
This is the third major momentous public health feat for India, which was declared polio-free
two years ago, elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus early this year and now becoming
free from Yaws, a chronic bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum subsp Pertenue.
India has officially declared itself free from highly contagious Avian Influenza (H5N1) or bird
flu and has notified the same to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
Smallpox was declared by WHO to be eradicated in 1979 from the World.
Montreal Protocol 1987
phasing out production of numerous Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs); (CFCs), Methyl Chloroform, CTC halons, Methyl Bromide phased-out globally.
NO legally binding reduction goals for the use of CFCs
India became a Party to the Montreal Protocol
September 1992; ratified the Copenhagen, Montreal and Beijing Amendments in 2003
Stockholm Convention 2004
protect human health, environment from persistent organic pollutants POP, UNEP. India’s Union Cabinet gave its approval to ratify and accede to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants on 20 October 2005.
UN Conference on Sustainable Development (2012)
3rd intl conf on SD Rio 2012 / Rio+20 / 20th anniversary of Earth Summit 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg. report themed “The future we want“.
ROTTERDAM CONVENTION, 1998
Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade;
multilateral treaty to promote shared responsibilities in relation to importation of hazardous chemicals, effective from 2004.
The convention promotes open exchange of information and calls on exporters of hazardous chemicals to use proper labelling, include directions on safe handling, and inform purchasers of any known restrictions or bans.
Signatory nations can decide whether to allow or ban the importation of chemicals listed in the treaty, and exporting countries are obliged to make sure that producers within their jurisdiction comply.
In 2012, the Secretariats of the Basel and Stockholm conventions, as well as the UNEP-part of the Rotterdam Convention Secretariat, merged to a single Secretariat with a matrix structure serving the three conventions.
World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002)
Rio +10, held at Johannesburg in 2002
Reviewed progress in the implementation of Agenda 21 since its adoption in 1992
U.N. Convention on Desertification, 1994
combat desertification in countries experiencing serious drought, desertification - U.N. Conference on Environment and Development.
bottom-up approach to international environmental cooperation. national, regional and sub-regional action programmes.
India hosts the network on agro forestry and soil conservation.
2006 was declared “International Year of Deserts and Desertification”
Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing
Genetic Resources
- Access, Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to CBD
safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health. It was adopted on 29 January 2000 and entered into force on 11 September 2003.
Vienna Convention
adopted in the year 1985 and entered into force in 1988.
Protection of the Ozone Layer and its Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer are dedicated to the protection of the earth’s ozone layer.
With 197 parties, it is one of the most widely ratified treaties in United Nations history.
Key Provisions: It acts as a framework for the international efforts to protect the ozone layer however it does not include legally binding reduction goals for the use of CFCs.
India specific trivia: India became a Party to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of Ozone Layer on 19 June 1991 and the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer on 17 September 1992.
Namdapha National Park
- It is the largest protected area in the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot and harbours the
northernmost lowland evergreen rainforests in the world. - The habitat changes with increasing altitude from tropical moist forests to Montane forests,
temperate forests and at the higher elevations to Alpine meadows and perennial snow.
located in Changlang district, near its border with Myanmar. extensive bamboo forests and secondary forests in addition to the primary forests. Because of many different vegetation zones, the park is home to a great diversity of mammal species- snow leopards, clouded leopards, large Indian civet, barking deer etc.
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (1605 – 1689)
discovery or purchase of the 116-carat Tavernier Blue diamond, in 1666. The diamond was certainly Indian in origin and likely sourced by Tavernier in 1666[4] at the
Kollur mine in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.
Tavernier sold it to Louis XIV of France.
Roaring Forties
found between the latitudes of 40 and 50 degrees;
strong west-to-east air (Westerly) currents are caused by the combination of air being displaced from the Equator towards the South Pole and the Earth’s rotation, and there are few landmasses to serve as windbreaks.
Roaring Forties were a major aid to ships sailing the Brouwer Route from Europe to the
East Indies or Australasia during the Age of Sail, and in modern usage are favoured by
yachtsmen on round-the-world voyages and competitions.
The boundaries of the Roaring Forties are not consistent, and shift north or south depending
on the season.
Similar but stronger conditions occur in more southerly latitudes and are referred to as the
Furious Fifties and Shrieking or Screaming Sixties
Piyadassis, Devanampiya
Kings names in anc India
hills contain seven peaks namely, Anjanadri, Garudadri, Narayanadri, Neeladri, Seshadri,
Venkatadri and Vrishabhadri
Seshachalam
Chaitanya Bhakti Saint in Medieval Bengal
saint and reformer of Bengal who popularised the Krishna cult.
He renounced the material world, became an ascetic and wandered all over the country preaching his ideas.
universal brotherhood of man, condemned all distinction based on religion and caste. emphasised love and peace and showed great sympathy to the sufferings of other people, especially that of the poor and the weak.
He believed that through love and devotion, song and dance, a devotee can feel the presence of
God. He accepted disciples from all classes and castes and his teachings are widely followed in
Bengal even today
MoSAic International Observatory
Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the study of Arctic climate (MOSAiC) 1st year-round expedition into the central Arctic exploring the Arctic climate system.
total budget exceeding 60 Million € designed by an intl consortium of leading polar research institutions under International Arctic Science Committee (IASC).
understanding of the regional and global consequences of Arctic climate change and sea-ice loss and improve weather and climate predictions.
safer maritime and offshore operations, contribute to an improved scientific basis for future fishery and traffic along northern sea routes, increase coastal community resilience, and support science-informed decision-making and policy development
Origin Tapti
Tapti River between the Godavari and Narmada rivers starts from
Betul, Madhya Pradesh, and then flows westwards before draining through the Gulf of Khambhat
into the Arabian Sea.
Origin Godaveri
The Godavari is India’s second longest river after the Ganga. Its source is in
Triambakeshwar, Maharashtra.
Origin Kaveri
Originating in the foothills of Western Ghats at Talakaveri, Kodagu in Karnataka
Cauvery flows generally south and east through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu emptying into the Bay of
Bengal.
Origin Mahanadi
Mahanadi is a combination of many mountain streams and thus its precise source is
impossible to pinpoint. However its farthest headwaters lie 6 kilometres from Pharsiya village in
Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh.
MARPOL Convention
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships
(MARPOL Convention).
It is the main international convention that deals with this subject. It was adopted in 1973 and
entered into force in 1983.
Its biodiversity relevance stems from the highly detrimental effect that pollution can have on marine
organisms, therefore by preventing the pollution of the sea the Convention contributes towards the
maintenance of marine biodiversity.
Anushilan Samiti formed in 1906
Bengali Indian organisation and arose from conglomerations of local youth
groups and gyms in Bengal.
It had two prominent if somewhat independent arms in East and West Bengal identified as Dhaka
Anushilan Samiti and the Jugantar group respectively.
Between its foundations to its gradual dissolution through 1930s, the Samiti collaborated with other
revolutionary organisations in India and abroad.
Led by notable revolutionaries of the likes of Aurobindo Ghosh, Rash Behari Bose and Jatindranath
Mukherjee, the Samiti was involved in a number of noted incidences of revolutionary terrorism
against British interests and administration in India. These included the early attempts to
assassinate Raj officials, the 1912 attempt on the life of Viceroy of India, as well as the Sedetious
conspiracy during World War I.
FSSAI has
introduced Food Safety Display Boards (FSDBs) for various food businesses.
Restaurant (Purple) Fruit & Vegetable Retail (Green) Meat Retail (Red) Milk Retail (Blue) Street Food (Purple) Retail Store (Grey)
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction
writers of full-length
novels from the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe
Pulitzer Prize
newspaper or online journalism, literature, or
music. There are 21 categories including the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing, the Pulitzer Prize
for Music and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
Specsavers National Book Awards
categories, such as the Book of
the Year, Outstanding Achievement, UK Author of the Year, Children’s Book of the Year and Thriller
& Crime Novel of the Year
Schedule I of the Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972
- Gangetic Dolphin
- India Gazelle
- Lion-tailed Macaque
- Pygmy Hog
R Yamuna tributaries
Tons, Chambal, Hindon, Betwa and Ken. Other
small tributaries of the Yamuna River include the Giri, Sind, Uttangan, Sengar and the Rind
R Mahanadi tributary
Brahmani is a tributary of Mahanadi. Others are Ib, Jonk, Tel, HAsdep, Kuakhai etc
India and silk
second largest silk producer of raw silk
world’s largest consumer of pure silk.
only country to produce all 4 varieties - Mulberry, Eri, Tasar and Muga.
Mulberry is the largest practiced sericulture industry -76% of the entire silk production
exquisite brocade fabrics - Banaras, Karnataka, Patola of Gujarat and Rajasthan, ikats from Orissa, fine Bandhej, temple silks of Kancheepuram and Tanjore, etc.
Treaty of Allahabad - Battle of Buxar
signed in 1765, between the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II, and Robert, Lord Clive as a result of the Battle of Buxar of 1764.
The Treaty marks the political and constitutional involvement and the beginning of British
rule in India.
Based on the terms of the agreement, Alam granted EIC Diwani rights- right to collect taxes on behalf of the Emperor from eastern province of Bengal-BiharOrissa.
Thus EIC got appointed as the imperial tax collector for the Eastern province (Bengal-Bihar-Orissa).
These rights allowed the Company to collect revenue directly from the people of Bengal, Bihar
and Orissa. In return, the Company paid an annual tribute of twenty-six lakhs of rupees (equal
to 260,000 pounds sterling) while securing for Shah Alam II the districts of Kora and
Allahabad.
The tribute money paid to the emperor was for the maintenance of the Emperor’s court in Allahabad.
Kyoto Protocol 1992
extends the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that commits State Parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the premise that (a) global warming exists and (b) human-made CO2 emissions have caused it.
Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank (AIIB)
. It offers sovereign and non-sovereign financing for sustainable projects in energy,
telecommunications and rural infrastructure.
2. It may participate in the underwriting of securities issued by any entity or enterprise for purposes
consistent with its purpose
provide financing in a variety of ways, including, inter
alia, making loans, investing in the equity capital of an enterprise, and guaranteeing, whether as
primary or secondary obligor, in whole or in part, loans for economic development; agriculture development, water supply and sanitation,
environmental protection, and urban development and logistics
Core inflation
change in the costs of G,S excludes food and energy sectors (too volatile or fluctuate wildly)
determine impact of rising prices on consumer income.
represents the long run trend in the price level. In measuring long run inflation,
dynamic consumption basket is considered the basis to obtain core inflation.
calculated using the Consumer Price Index (CPI)
microwave radiometer
Electromagnetic radiation in the microwave wavelength region is used in remote sensing to provide useful information about the Earth’s atmosphere, land and ocean.
A microwave radiometer is a passive device which records the natural microwave emission from the
earth. to measure the total water content of the atmosphere within its field of view. In synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging, microwave pulses are transmitted by an antenna towards the earth surface. The microwave energy scattered back to the spacecraft is measured. use of the radar principle to form an image by utilising the time delay of the
backscattered signals
INS Baaz
southernmost air station of Indian Armed Forces.
Located at Campbell Bay on the Great Nicobar island, the southernmost and largest island of the
Nicobar island.
This island is also the location of the Indira Point and is less than 250 km by sea from Banda Aceh in
Indonesia.
helping build Maritime Domain Awareness by
providing information via airborne surveillance using aircraft and (UAVs).
India’s “window into East and Southeast Asia”, and is in close vicinity of the Six Degree Channel/Great Channel, one of the Indian Ocean’s busiest shipping lines, carrying strategic cargo to East Asian countries.
It is also close to the Strait of Malacca.
It is a part of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the only tri-services formation of the Indian Armed Forces that was started in 2001
Jnanpith Award
Indian literary award presented annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith to an author for their “outstanding contribution towards literature”.
Instituted in 1961, only to Indian writers writing in Indian languages included in the 8th Schedule and English.
No posthumous
Starred question
(distinguished by an asterisk) requires an oral answer and hence supplementary
questions can follow
Unstarred question
requires a written answer and hence, supplementary
questions cannot follow
Short answer question
asked by giving a notice of less than ten days. It is answered orally.
Biomass Productivity
rate of generation of biomass in an ecosystem
Swamps and Marshes> Coral Reefs> River Estuaries> Cultivated Lands
Swamps and marshes 2,500 [3] Tropical rainforests 2,000 [50] 8 16 Coral reefs 2,000 [3] 0.28 [51] 0.56 Algal beds 2,000 [3] River estuaries 1,800 [3] Temperate forests 1,250 [3] 19 24 Cultivated lands 650 [3][52] 17 11 Tundras 140 [3][52] Open ocean 125 [3][52] 311 39 Deserts
ICRISAT Genebank
world repository for the collection of
germplasm of the six mandate crops: sorghum, pearl millet, chickpea, pigeonpea,
groundnut, finger millet; and five small millets
largest international genebanks
regional genebanks at Nairobi, Bulawayo and Niamey to facilitate easy access
of regional and global diversity to NARS partners
serves both as insurance against genetic erosion and a sources of tolerance to
diseases and pests, environmental stresses, higher nutritional quality and traits related to
yield for crop improvement
placed in-trust with the FAO of the United Nations
and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
(ITPGRFA) for use by the global community as International Public Good (IPG)
vital role in preservation of genetic variability as it is easy to maintain
and cost-effective. The conserved germplasm has been characterized for important morphoagronomic characteristics
ICRISAT Genebank has deposited over 111,000 accessions at
Svalbard Global Seed Vault (SGSV), Norway as safety backup. The SGSV provides an
insurance against the loss of seeds in genebanks, as well as a refuge for seeds in the case
of large scale regional or global crisis
source of diversity available
to researchers in both public and private sectors throughout the world
National Health Profile
by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence
Covers
comprehensive information on demographic, socio-economic health status, health finance
indicators, health infrastructure and health of human resources in the country
amber box - WTO
include measures to support prices, inputs, or subsidies directly related to production quantities. “de minimis” minimal supports are allowed (generally 5% of agricultural production for developed countries, 10% for developing countries)
reduction commitments are expressed in terms of a “Total Aggregate Measurement of Support”
(Total AMS) which includes all supports for specified products together with supports that are not
for specific products, in one single figure. In the current negotiations, various proposals deal with
how much further these subsidies should be reduced, and whether limits should be set for specific
products rather than continuing with the single overall “aggregate” limits
Blue box - WTO
Blue Box is the “amber box with conditions” — conditions designed to reduce distortion.
Any support that would normally be in the amber box, is placed in the blue box if the
support also requires farmers to limit production (details set out in Paragraph 5 of Article
6 of the Agriculture Agreement).
At present there are no limits on spending on blue box subsidies
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
intl coalition of countries, UN agencies, multilateral dvlpnt banks, pvt sector, academic institutions, to promote disaster-resilient infra.
promote research, knowledge sharing in infra risk mgmnt, stds, financing, and recovery mechanisms. launched by PM at 2019 UN Climate Action Summit.
achieve substantial changes in member countries’ policy frameworks, future infra investments, along with a major decrease in economic losses suffered due to disasters.
assist countries to upgrade their capacities and practices, with regard to infra dvlpnt in accordance with their risk context and
economic needs.
Partnership will be working in the areas of governance and policy, emerging technology, risk
identification and estimation, recovery and reconstruction, resilience standards and certification, finance, and capacity development.
WB and Green Climate Fund (GCF) expressed support for CDRI and committed to working closely with its secretariat in Delhi
12 founding members of CDRI: Aust, Bhutan, Fiji, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Maldives, Mexico, Mongolia, Rwanda, SL, UK.
In India, NE and Himalayan regions are prone to earthquakes, coastal areas to cyclones and tsunamis and central peninsular region to droughts
Pardoning of President vs Governor
The pardoning power of President is wider than the governor and it differs in the
following two ways:
The power of the President to grant pardon extends in cases where the punishment or
sentence is by a Court Martial but Article 161 does not provide any such power to the
Governor.
The President can grant pardon in all cases where the sentence given is sentence of death but
pardoning power of Governor does not extend to death sentence cases.
But, both can commute sentences
Clemency powers of the President under article 72
This power of pardon shall be exercised by the President on the advice of Council of
Ministers.
The constitution does not provide for any mechanism to question the legality of decisions of
President or governors exercising mercy jurisdiction.
But the SC in Epuru Sudhakar case has given a small window for judicial review of the pardon
powers of President and governors for the purpose of ruling out any arbitrariness
President shall have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of
punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence.
Pardon–A pardon completely absolves the offender from all sentences and punishment and
disqualifications and places him in the same position as if he had never committed the
offence.
Commutation– Commutation means exchange of one thing for another. In simple words to
replace the punishment with less severe punishment. For example for Rigorous imprisonmentsimple imprisonment.
Reprieve– Reprieve means temporary suspension of death sentence. For example- pending a
proceeding for pardon or commutation.
Respite– Respite means awarding a lesser punishment on some special grounds. For examplethe Pregnancy of women offender.
Remissions– Remission means the reduction of the amount of sentence without changing its haracter, for example, a sentence of 1 year may be remitted to 6 months.
Causes of 2nd Anglo Mysore war
The British failed to fulfill the terms of the defensive treaty with Haider when he was
attacked by the Marathas in 1771.
2. There was an outbreak of hostilities between the English and the French (an ally of Haider)
during the American War of Independence.
3. The British captured Mahe, a French settlement within Haider’s territories.
4. Haider Ali formed a grand alliance with the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas against
the British in 1779.
Valley of Flowers National Park
- It forms a transition zone between Zanskar and Great Himalayan range.
- Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, musk deer, brown bear, red fox, and blue sheep
- It forms a part of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvIT)
like a mutual fund, enables direct investment of small amounts of money from possible individual/institutional investors in infra to earn a small portion of the income as return.
InvITs can be treated as the modified version of REITs designed to suit the specific circumstances of infra sector.
similar to REIT but invest in infra projects such as roads or highways which take some time to generate steady cash flows
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT)
owning a share of property, and so an appropriate share of the income from it will come to you, after deducting an appropriate share of expenses.
like a group of ppl pooling their money together and buying real estate except that it’s on a large scale and is regulated.
both InVIT, REIT are open to both retail and institutional investors. InVIT does not provide ownership rights, but REIT does.
Why need InvITs and REITs?
Given the importance of infrastructure and real estate 2 most critical sectors in any developing economy, and paucity of public funds available to stimulate their growth, additional channels of financing needed.
well-developed infrastructural set-up propels overall development of a country. facilitates a steady inflow of private and foreign investments, thereby augments capital base available for growth of key sectors in an economy, as well as its own growth, in a sustained manner.
Mahabalipuram monuments
rock-cut rathas, sculptured scenes on open rocks like Arjuna’s penance, caves of Govardhanadhari Mahishasuramardini, the Jala-Sayana Perumal temple (the sleeping Mahavishnu or Chakrin at the rear part of the Shore temple complex) attributed to period of Narasimhavarman-I Mamalla.
Of the nine monolithic temples found in Mahabalipuram, most important are Five Rathas known after the famous five Pandava brothers of the Mahabharata fame. These monuments are carved out a single rock.
Lapsing of bills
A bill pending in the Lok Sabha lapses (whether originating in the Lok Sabha or transmitted
to it by the Rajya Sabha).
A bill passed by the Lok Sabha but pending in the Rajya Sabha lapses.
A bill not passed by the two Houses due to disagreement and if the president has
notified the holding of a joint sitting before the dissolution of Lok Sabha, does not
lapse.
A bill pending in the Rajya Sabha but not passed by the Lok Sabha does not lapse.
A bill passed by both Houses but pending assent of the president does not lapse.
A bill passed by both Houses but returned by the president for reconsideration of Houses does
not lapse.
contributions of Varahamihira.
imp mathematical discoveries-
trigonometric formulae, sine tables where he improved those of Aryabhata I
Panchasiddhantika (The Five Astronomical Canons) dated 575 AD- info about older Indian texts; treatise on mathematical astronomy, summarises 5 earlier astronomical treatises, namely Surya, Romaka, Paulisa, Vasistha and Paitamaha siddhantas.
educated in Kapitthaka. worked at Ujjain centre for mathematics since 400 AD. Brahmagupta as its next major figure.
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
agriculture more productive, sustainable, remunerative, climate resilient by promoting location specific Integrated/Composite Farming Systems;
conserve natural resources thr appropriate soil and moisture conservation measures;
Comprehensive soil health management practices, soil test based application of macro & micro nutrients, judicious use of fertilizers etc
To optimize utilization of water ‘more crop per drop’; develop capacity of farmers
improving productivity of rainfed farming by
mainstreaming rainfed technologies
inter and intra Departmental/Ministerial co-ordination
President’s prior recommendation/consent needed to introduce which of these types of bills in the
Parliament?
a money bill
bill alternation of state boundaries
introduction of GST
Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI)
an indicator of business activity- in the manufacturing and services sectors.
It is a survey-based measure that asks the respondents about changes in their perception about key business variables as compared with the previous month.
